Kuwait Seizes Iraqi Vessel

Tuesday, January 23, 2001

Kuwait seized a vessel in its territorial waters for allegedly trying to smuggle 1,000 tons of crude oil out of Iraq in violation of United Nations sanctions, Reuters reported. "The vessel, which was carrying the Honduras flag, was stopped by Kuwait's coast guard on Thursday while trying to pass through Kuwaiti waters out of Iraq with the crude cargo," a ministry official said. He said the ship had a crew of 19 from different Asian nationalities. No Iraqis were arrested.